We’re always on the hunt for a great pie, even if it means making the four-hour drive up to Door County. Well, we think we’ve found it—Bea’s Ho-Made Pies are the real deal. (And yes, you read that right: Bea’s Ho-Made.) Nestled on a property homesteaded in 1884 by the Landin family, Bea’s is just half a mile east of Gills Rock, right off Wisconsin State Highway 42.

The story of Bea’s Ho-Made Products started quite by accident. In 1961, the Landins’ oldest daughter, Linda, began selling cherries from a simple roadside picnic table. The next year, with an oversupply of beans and cucumbers from the family garden, she expanded her offerings. But it wasn’t until she added her grandmother’s chopped cherry jam that things really took off. Inspired by the jam’s success, her mother, Bea, decided to add more flavors—strawberry, raspberry, and eventually pickles and other delicious preserves. By day, the Landin family farmed, and by night, they canned, selling their homemade products right there on the side of the road.

In 1972, Bea took things to the next level by opening a wholesale business, which led to building a dedicated kitchen and retail store. Today, Bea’s has evolved into a modern facility where the same traditional recipes are followed to craft jams, jellies, pickles, and relishes—still with no artificial colors, just like in the beginning.

Now boasting over 100 varieties of jams, jellies, pickles, sauces, and relishes—not to mention their famous pies and cookies—Bea’s remains a beloved stop for Door County visitors. The staff here takes pride in making products that generations of customers return for year after year. And if you’re a first-time visitor, after sampling the treats and catching a whiff of those fresh-baked pies, it won’t be long before Bea’s becomes part of your Door County tradition, too. The kitchen door is always open, so feel free to peek in, watch the magic happen, and ask a few questions while you’re at it!

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